Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday, June 2, donated ₦20 million to victims of the recent flood in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, where 153 people were reported dead and over 100 still missing.
Obi, who visited the Niger State Government House in Minna, was received by the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba.
He expressed his condolences to the government and people of the state and pledged to personally meet with the families affected by the disaster.
Speaking on the tragedy, Obi said, “And our people lost their lives. It is critical. So we are just here to condole and show our solidarity and continue to assure you that for me, for Nigeria, these are states we need to invest in.
“We felt that we had to do so physically to visit here, condole you and show solidarity because whatever happened here happened in Nigeria. And we’re all Nigerians. And we are brothers and sisters.
“May those who die in eternal rest comfort their families and the good people of Niger State and continue to bless the families and the good people of Niger State.”
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Obi, accompanied by former Minister of Finance, Mr Bernadus Phan, also highlighted the state’s vast agricultural potential, calling for targeted investment to boost Nigeria’s economy through food production.
“Niger State is one state I still maintain and believe that can help to change Nigeria. Nigeria has no reason to be part of countries that should be counted as the hungriest countries of the world. We shouldn’t be. Because God gave us what can pull us there.
“We can make more money from agriculture than we can from oil. Oil is a diminishing asset. Agriculture is Nigeria’s future asset because people must eat and no other state holds key to that than Niger State. So we can do more. All we need as a nation is to invest in these two states.
“These are states we need to invest in. These are oil. If we put our resources into it, we could generate what we are not making from oil from them. So we are here to condole you,” he said.
The Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, expressed gratitude for Obi’s visit and generous donation, describing it as a noble show of empathy and solidarity.
He praised Obi for his consistent support for Nigerians in times of need, saying the gesture reflected genuine love for humanity.